“You still banging Victoria? Because I’ve never seen her put a smile on your face like that before.” Aiden dropped onto a stool at the breakfast counter.
Although things with Victoria were never serious, he didn’t like Aiden speaking about her like that. He’d let it pass to save an argument. “We’re not together anymore.” Not that they ever had been.
When the coffee was ready, he poured it out and handed a mug to Aiden. Ethan leaned a hip against the counter and took a sip.
“So, you’re screwing some other chick? Best part of our job, women always willing and ready.”
Anger, hotter than his coffee, percolated in his gut and his free hand clenched into a fist by his side. Aiden didn’t normally talk like this. Losing his wife and his baby had changed him into a harsh man that Ethan no longer recognised. And to have him talk about Holly as if she was a piece of available arse, was unacceptable. Becoming a widower didn’t mean he could be an arsehole.
“He’s seeing one of the makeup artists on set,” Chloe said, strolling into the room. “It’s pretty serious from what I’ve been told. I’d love a cup, too.” She slid onto a stool next to Aiden, gave her brother a kiss on the cheek and smiled. Ethan could see the concern in her eyes as she took in Aiden’s dishevelled state.
Ethan poured her coffee and slid the mug along the counter. She took a long sip and sighed, “God, I needed that.”
“So, what’s this about Ethan getting serious?” Aiden asked.
“What do you even know about it anyway?” Ethan frowned at Chloe.
She gave him a playful shrug of one shoulder. “I have my ways.”
“Mum,” Ethan stated. “You two are such gossips.”
“It’s not gossip if Mum and I are talking about you. It’s family business.”
Ethan and Aiden both scoffed. It was the first time in months Ethan had seen even a slight upward turn of Aiden’s lips. In a blink, it was gone. He held onto hope that more might follow.
“Stay out ofmybusiness.” Ethan threw her a sharp look that didn’t intimidate her at all. It never worked. He should just give up trying.
“I like Holly, I thinks she’s great. Too good for you though.”
“Holly’s the new chick you’re banging?” Aiden sneered.
Ethan’s jaw clenched and he growled through stiff lips, “If you keep referring Holly ‘to the chick I’m banging’, I don’t care that you’re my brother, I’ll knock you on your fucking arse.”
The brothers stared at each other with baleful expressions until Aiden shrugged and leaned back in his seat hooking an arm over the back of the chair.
“They’ve been inseparable. It’s the most invested Ethan’s ever been with a woman,” Chloe said.
“I’m going to have to talk with Mum,” Ethan said. “She needs to keep her mouth shut.” He couldn’t help smiling, though it was true. They’d spent a lot of time together and he loved every minute.
“Look at his face.” Chloe nudged Aiden’s shoulder and sighed dramatically. “I think it’s love.”
Ethan wouldn’t go that far, but even as he thought that warmth spread across his chest. That was a feeling he’d never experienced before. He liked Holly but love? No.
Aiden sneered. “Fuck love. What good has that done anyone?” He abruptly rose, the chair rocking dangerously close to tipping. “Find a woman tofucknot love. My house is ready, I’m leaving now.” With that, he stormed out of the room.
Chloe stared after him while Ethan gathered the empty mugs and tossed them in the sink. The loud clanging sound whipping Chloe’s head around.
“Hope you have more of those, they sound like they broke.”
Ethan didn’t give a damn about the mugs, and he’d had about enough of Aiden’s foul mood.
“He’s grieving,” Chloe said. “We should be more sensitive around him. It can’t be easy hearing about other people’s happy relationships when he’s lost the love of his life.”
“If we’re any more sensitive, we’d be mute. I’m tired of walking on eggshells because we’re worried how he’ll react. Grief shouldn’t be an excuse to be an arsehole 24/7.”
“Do you think we’ll ever get our Aiden back?” Chloe’s eyes glistened with unshed tears.
He didn’t want to discourage any hope Chloe had for their brother. But he didn’t want to give her false hope either. “Maybe one day.”
